The member companies are planning to specify the common mechanical
dimensions, footprint, pin functions and performance of the optical
transmitter and receiver devices. The TOSA/ROSA MSA specifies key
features including a low-profile and compact fit for pluggable
modules and simple electrical interfaces that provide cost effective
solutions.

The demand for 40Gbps serial transmissions is growing in
telecommunication, data and IP communication applications.

"The TOSA/ROSA agreement will leverage the 40 Gbps market to achieve
compact, low-power consumption pluggable modules, which will provide
advanced 40 Gbps serial solutions to high capacity network and
storage systems," said an MSA Committee spokesperson. In the future,
the MSA will continue to define specifications that consider future
advanced technologies, such as 1310 nm light source devices and
direct modulation lasers.

The new TOSA/ROSA MSA defines both the laser transmitter devices and
the PIN Photodiode -Trans-impedance amplifier (PIN-TIA) receiver
devices that comply with 40 Gbps interface standards. The MSA
targets transmission modules for more than 10 km applications.